The Buffalo Bills took care of their roster holes pretty well through free agency, with their big additions on both sides of the ball being S Mike Edwards and WR Curtis Samuel. However, they’re still in need of a few positions. With 11 draft picks in April, including the 28th overall pick, it’s safe to say the Bills will be able to fix their roster before the season begins. Let’s take a look at three of their biggest needs, and what player fits the team.
DT T’Vondre Sweat
Sweat spent five years in college with the Texas Longhorns. In that time, he was named First-Team All-Big 12, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Unanimous All-American, and won the Outland trophy for Best Interior DL. He didn’t see the field much as a starter until 2022, making nine starts that year. Sweat is a big 6’4”, 366 pound force inside, with eight TFLs and two sacks last season.
If it wasn’t his play on the field that impressed scouts, his combine took his draft stock up a notch. Sweat ran a 5.27 40 yard dash, 1.8 second 10-yard split, 26” vertical jump, and 8’2” broad jump.
Sweat would be able to sit behind Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones this year while he gets acclimated to the NFL and grow into his (large) frame. He helps the Bills in the run game, something they were lacking in when DaQuan Jones went down with his pectoral injury last year, and the pass rush as he eats up blockers for Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano.
S Kamren Kinchens
With Mike Edwards signed and Taylor Rapp re-signed, they project to be the Week 1 starters. That allows Kinchens to mold into the Safety McDermott, and former Safety whisperer Bobby Babich, want him to become. A ball hawk in college, Kinchens had 11 INTs in 2022 and 2023. Kinchens also totaled 118 tackles, 11 passes defended, and one forced fumble during that time. Kinchens became a First-Team All-American and 2x First-Team All-ACC in his three years at Miami.
The Bills are in need of a playmaking Safety like Kinchens after losing Jordan Poyer and, likely, Micah Hyde this off-season. Now, new DC Bobby Babich will be trying to build a Jordan Poyer 2.0 on defense and recreate the secondary he once was in charge of.
WR Adonai Mitchell
Mitchell was a two-time National Champion in college, later transferring from Georgia to Texas in 2023. Mitchell quickly became one of Quinn Ewers’ favorite targets, alongside Xavier Worthy, totaling 845 yards and 11 TDs on 55 receptions.
I mentioned Mitchell in the Buffalo Fanatics writers mock draft, valuing his size, speed, and his large frame as traits the Bills should be looking for from their next WR. The only WR they’re missing is a big-bodied pass catcher, as they already found speed in Curtis Samuel.
While he is projected to go before the Buffalo Bills at 28, Brandon Beane likes to trade up for players he sees value in. If he likes Mitchell’s size enough, Beane could package up some of his 11 picks and move up to land the Bills’ future at WR.
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